Portrait of an officer. Valparaíso, Chile. Circa 1870.

Vintage albumen print in the universal "portrait cabinet" format. Measurements: 13.7 x 9.7 cm / 5.39 x 3.81 in. Photograph - irregularly cut and pasted on a vintage boxed cardboard, with the legend at the bottom in red lithographic ink: “Valparaíso, Calle San Juan de Dios N. 41”. On the back of the work, with the same ink tone, the following advertisement: "Photographic Establishment / Calle de / San Juan de Dios 41" The firm was founded around the 1860s by the Dalmatian immigrant Miguel Guillermo Cunich. This promotion is located within a landscape oval that includes a wooden camera with a bellows and flanked by two protective angels with flames on their heads, a pair of crossed torches and various romantic motifs of adornment, a stamp that, curiously, was covered later with a printed paper from the firm Bizioli Hermanos de Buenos Aires. The image is kept in good condition.

On the history of that active photographer from Valparaíso, the immigrant Miguel G. Cunich, married the Chilean Ventura Silva Olavarría and his political family collaborated financially in the development of that establishment of the Port that achieved great hierarchy due to the quality of its portraits, the introduction of the novel stereoscopic photography and the sale of views. In 1872 Miguel traveled to Europe with his wife and left his brother Juan Antonio temporarily in charge of the premises, but he died unexpectedly in Naples (Italy) around April 1873. (1)

Studio portrait of a senior warlord in his old age. It was common at the time that prominent warriors, upon reaching an advanced age, were convinced by their families to re-wear the old dress uniform with the well-deserved decorations and pose for the photographer. This was probably the reason why that military glory looks with nobility towards the great study chamber; he is held by the metal nape hook whose triptych base is hidden by the great curtain. Standing, he wears his large epaulettes, laces, awards, and bands, and holds the long combat sword; Four decorations stand out on the chest and another three on the sleeve, while the bicorn hat rests on the small study furniture. Battles still echo in his mind.

Abel alexander

President of the Ibero-American Society for the History of Photography

Note:

1. Hernán Rodríguez Villegas: History of Photography. Photographers in Chile during the 19th century. Santiago. National Center for Photographic Heritage. 2001.